Oneworld Classic Flight Reward Discussion - The Definitive Thread

[yld200]

Thanks Daver6,

I'll leave the flights we'll just have to wait it out in the QP and yes we will be in J

Not sure what the MCT time is, but having taken this flight myself, except coming from PER, the time through customers was very quick. You've already passed through security, so it is only customs. Was very quick.

The Adelaide QP isn't bad and pretty comfy. They seem to bring around special coughtails in the evening too. I'd just stick with the flight you have so you don't need to worry. Maybe plan for a relaxing shower in the lounge and a drink. Save eating for the flight as QR J food is pretty good (assuming you're in J).

 

[flychrisfly]

A number of people have PMed me their award record locators and I've been able to pull out a large amount of data on fuel surcharges being levied for tickets issued in Australia. Thank you to those of you who have done so.

This data is now available to everyone in the wiki in this thread (at the top, expand the wiki to view the entire wiki).

When we have enough data points, everyone will be able to calculate their oneworld award fuel surcharges using the list in the wiki to check if they have been overcharged or not.

Thanks MadRooster, now all you have to do is maintain it. Forever

 

[madrooster]

Thanks MadRooster, now all you have to do is maintain it. Forever

A big update with a lot more routings should go up later today or sometime tomorrow

 

[blu]

For a OW Award that is already booked, can the first sector be cancelled (eg: departing from SYD)? Maybe it can't?

However, if so, would it change the costs - from AUS PoS charges to overseas PoS charges?

 

[Captain Halliday]

For a OW Award that is already booked, can the first sector be cancelled (eg: departing from SYD)? Mabe it can't?

However, if so, would it change the costs - from AUS PoS charges to overseas PoS charges?

It can be changed, but the change fees apply - 5,000pts for J, more in Y.

Starting overseas would likely lower the taxes depending on whether the mix of airlines change, and if fuel prices have changed since the original booking.

As an example, I have an upcoming OW award starting in SIN. As a result of doing this madrooster advised that I saved a significant amount of fuel fines on a QF sector BNE-LAX later in the Award.

On this basis I would say starting OS is likely to lower the cost.

 

[madrooster]

For a OW Award that is already booked, can the first sector be cancelled (eg: departing from SYD)? Mabe it can't?

However, if so, would it change the costs - from AUS PoS charges to overseas PoS charges?

Yes you can cancel it. It would trigger a tax recalculation and it should change to the foreign PoS charges. Change fees would apply.

 

[blu]

Thanks, I'm thinking of adding some more sectors if I can squeeze them into the distance limit and depart from SIN.

 

[PaulST]

Hi all, two questions:
1) if I have to call QF for a WP seat release, will they charge me a booking fee as I'm assuming I'd just book the whole trip while on the phone?
2) anything other than AA Y is impossible to find (I'm thinking Washington DC to LAX), so can you pay to upgrade? I'll be WP when I book the flight, but SG when I fly so will I have access to extra legroom seats?

 

[Captain Halliday]

Hi all, two questions:
1) if I have to call QF for a WP seat release, will they charge me a booking fee as I'm assuming I'd just book the whole trip while on the phone?
2) anything other than AA Y is impossible to find (I'm thinking Washington DC to LAX), so can you pay to upgrade? I'll be WP when I book the flight, but SG when I fly so will I have access to extra legroom seats?

I can't help with 1, sorry. But in relation to 2, I booked an OW award which included AA Y because I couldn't get 3xJ. I'm SG and have been able to preselect Main Cabin Extra. They have slightly more legroom.

 

[Kangol]

Hi all, two questions:
1) if I have to call QF for a WP seat release, will they charge me a booking fee as I'm assuming I'd just book the whole trip while on the phone?
2) anything other than AA Y is impossible to find (I'm thinking Washington DC to LAX), so can you pay to upgrade? I'll be WP when I book the flight, but SG when I fly so will I have access to extra legroom seats?

1) Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't. More often they do not charge it, in my experience. Even if they do, it's a very small fee for getting something that otherwise would not have been available.
2) I don't think so. Upgrading awards by way of cash is not permitted, unless you are referring to bribes
Best to book now and select the MCE (main cabin extra), extra legroom seats. In the last few years I have generally only flown AA F on a 2 or 3 class aircraft so I don't have recent first hand experience.

 

[PaulST]

I've put together a rough itinerary for April next year but have been somewhat put off by the $1618 of extra charges.
SYD-HKG-HEL-LHR-IAD- make my own way to LAX since there's no awards - LAX-BNE-SYD

Is $1.6K a bit excessive? I know that flying out of LHR is reasonably pricey but I don't really have any alternatives (I have free accommodation there too so that helps counter the exit fees).

Or is $1618 a normal figure and I should be happy that I'm not paying $10K to fly RTW in J?

(this is my first ever 35K km OW award)

 

[Captain Halliday]

I've put together a rough itinerary for April next year but have been somewhat put off by the $1618 of extra charges.
SYD-HKG-HEL-LHR-IAD- make my own way to LAX since there's no awards - LAX-BNE-SYD

Is $1.6K a bit excessive? I know that flying out of LHR is reasonably pricey but I don't really have any alternatives (I have free accommodation there too so that helps counter the exit fees).

It might be worth considering a cash fare to a destination near LHR. For example, in an upcoming award I have booked a cheapie in Y from LHR-FRA and will continue my award from there. Saved ~$250.

You could also consider starting the award outside AUS. In my case starting in SIN saved me heaps on the BNE-LAX sector.

The airlines you select will also make a difference.

And finally, check the wiki. madrooster has done a great job compiling the taxes for the most frequently travelled sectors and airlines - this might assist.

 

[blu]

Having problem testing an adjusted itinerary (OWA fails on the last sector).
Can't see any rule breaches and CGM mileage shows as 34,066.
Have I missed something or does QF measure differently to GCM (ie: actual air route path)? :

SIN-DOH-MAN
MAN-EDI (land travel sector)
EDI-LHR stop (28hrs)
LHR-ARN stop
ARN-LHR-DUB stop
DUB-LHR-NRT transit (12hr)
NRT-SYD stop
SYD-BNE-NRT transit (but will be stopover in actual itinerary)
NRT-BNE End
BNE-SIN (notional)

 

[Captain Halliday]

Having problem testing an adjusted itinerary (OWA fails on the last sector).
Can't see any rule breaches and CGM mileage shows as 34,066.
Have I missed something or does QF measure differently to GCM (ie: actual air route path)? :

SIN-DOH-MAN
MAN-EDI (land travel sector)
EDI-LHR stop (28hrs)
LHR-ARN stop
ARN-LHR-DUB stop
DUB-LHR-NRT transit (12hr)
NRT-SYD stop
SYD-BNE-NRT transit (but will be stopover in actual itinerary)
NRT-BNE End
BNE-SIN (notional)

Looks like too many stopovers to me. MAN, LHR, ARN, DUB, SYD, NRT = 6

 

[blu]

Thanks, didn't see that.

 

[PaulST]

Sooo... I'm close to making a booking for late April next year.
I'll have to ring as I'll need to request an opening on LAX-MEL so how quickly does that happen? Can the award be released and ticket all organised on the same phone call?

SYD-HKG (currently a CX 77W although on the phone I'll ask to open up a QF A333 via BNE or MEL)
HKG-HEL (AY A359)
HEL-LHR (AY A321 - the A359 didn't come up but it's only a short hop so I'll be interested to try something different anyway)
(around 16hrs in LHR, so I'm assuming this doesn't count as a stop-over?)
LHR-ATH (BA A320)
ATH-LHR-IAD (BA A320 and then a BA 744)
Make my own way to LAX. I'm assuming AA would be able to put send my bags directly through to SYD?)
LAX-MEL (have to call and request a release of the QF 789)
MEL-SYD

280,000 QF points.
Total $1280AUD.

Seem reasonable? My god this stuff takes a long time.

 

[blu]

Can see how to fix my stopover problem, but involves cancelling flights. May need to try and avoid that.
What is the charge for cancelling two award flights (6,000 points each flight per pax + service fees) ?
Taxes and charges for new itinerary were converted to $1,620 per pax.

 

[Jacques Vert]

I'll have to ring as I'll need to request an opening on LAX-MEL so how quickly does that happen? Can the award be released and ticket all organised on the same phone call?

My experience is that the request is dealt with there and then. I can't remember which day I was on the phone but it was definitely during business hours. Probably best to ring on a Monday to Friday; others may be able to confirm situation on a weekend.


Yes, all can be organised on the same phone call but it may be a few days before it is actually ticketed.

JV

 

[Jacques Vert]

(around 16hrs in LHR, so I'm assuming this doesn't count as a stop-over?)

<24 hours is a transit, NOT a stopover.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Can see how to fix my stopover problem, but involves cancelling flights. May need to try and avoid that.
What is the charge for cancelling two award flights (6,000 points each flight per pax + service fees) ?
Taxes and charges for new itinerary were converted to $1,620 per pax.

You will be charged the change fee (in points); the service fee will not be charged if you are in J, but will be if you are in Y.

From the T&C's:

Service Fees will not be applied when changing Classic Flight Rewards booked for travel in Business or First class.

And the change fee is now 5,000 points per change, per passenger; so try to make all your changes in one call.

(I'm assuming that the original itinerary has been booked and ticketed already? Your post 4799 seems to suggest that you were only trialing the itinerary?)